Los Angeles Lakers land their dream prospect in 2017 NBA Mock Draft
By Nick Ziegler
With their second pick in the first round, the Trail Blazers will be dipping into the international pool. Using the 20th overall pick, the Trail Blazers will be selecting Isaiah Hartenstein.
At over 7’0” and 250lbs, Hartenstein will be a center in the NBA with his large frame. While the Trail Blazers have invested a lot of money in their backcourt and on the wings, Meyers Leonard is the only big man that they currently have signed to a long-term deal.
Here is what DraftExpress recently had to say in their scouting report of Hartenstein:
"Hartenstein has developed the reputation as a 7-footer who can space the floor and attack from the perimeter but after a week in Portland he showed his initial value may be more as a hard-playing, 250-pound big who can make his presence felt on the glass and play with activity defensively as his offensive skill set continues to develop. Hartenstein may very well turn into a threat from NBA three down the road, but he showed that he has quite a bit of room to improve in that regard."
Like most international big men, Hartenstein will be able to stretch the floor. The difference between Hartenstein and some other international big men, he is a great rebounder and also pretty strong defensively in the paint. With no fear of playing in the paint, Hartenstein could be a future big man for the Trail Blazers.